Reclining chair



Jan. 22, 1957 Filed Aug. 9. 1954 A. P. KRIKORIAN 2,778,408

RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet I IN V EN TOR.

aw/2 w w Jan. 22, 1957 A. P. KRIKORIAN RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9. 1954 Jan. 22, 1957 A. P. KRIKORIAN RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 9, 1954 Jan. 22, 1957 A. P. KRIKORIAN RECLINING CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 9. 1954 United States PatentO RECLINING CHAIR Albert P. Krikorian, Agawam, Mass.

Application August 9, 1954, Serial No. 448,439 2 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a reclining article of furniture and is directed more particularly to the provision of a reclining chair consisting essentially of a support or frame on which a seat and back rest are swingably mounted for swinging movement relative to the support and for reclining in multi-positions from an upright or sitting position.

Additionally, a leg rest maybe connected to the operating mechanism and be capable of swinging forwardly and upwardly relative to the seat as the seat and the back rest are moved to their respective reclining positions.

The invention particularly relates to the provision of means whereby a back restand a seat may be adjusted relative to each other and to the support between a forward upright or sitting position and a rearward recumbent or reclining position.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved construction wherein the seat, the back rest and possibly a foot rest are readily tiltable relative to the support between the upright and the reclining positions and/or a multiplicity of intermediate positions therebetw'een merely by the slightest movement on the part of the chair occupant himself.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated four complete examples of the invention, in each of which the elements or parts are combined in accordance with specific types of construction which I have devised for the application of the principles of the invention. Changes and alterations are contemplated, however, and may be made, in these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of the claims below, Without departing from the principles of the invention.

I accomplish same by means of such structure "and'relative arrangement of parts thereof, aswill fully appear by a perusal of the description below and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the device of the invention in the upright sitting position with "one side of the structure removed; 8

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1 in the reclined position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a'modifi'edform of the invention in the upright sitting position with-one side of the structure removed; and i Fig. 4 is a side elevationalview of -the device of the invention shown in Fig. '3 in the reclined position.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the chair construction will now be described. have shown a chair construction which consists generally of asupport or chassis comprising a pair of side frames 10"space'd apart by a plurality of transverse members suchas 1'2, 14, 16 and 18.

It will be appreciated that the chair components may be made of wood, metal -or other materials and'may be suitably padded or upholstered, all as may be desired.

A back rest member is generallydesignatedbyM-and is or the conventional construction consisting *ofaframe work of spaced parallel-side members anda'plurality "of ice tween and supported by the opposite side frame members 10 and 10 whereby the back rest member may be journalled therebetween in the well known manner; If desired, the pivot member 26 may comprise a pair of pivot members, each being engageable with one of the sides 22 of the member 20 and with its adjacent side frame member 10.

The seat assembly comprises a seat member 30 which is transversely disposed between the opposite side frame members 10 and 10 and is pivoted thereto at its rearmost portionby means of a pair of coaxially disposed pivot members 32, each of which is engageable between a side of the seat member 30 and the adjacent side frame member 10.

As in the case of the pivot means for the back rest member, the pivot means for the seat assembly may comprise a unitary transverse rod member extending between and supported by the opposite side frame members 10 and 10 whereby the seat member 30 may be journalled thereon in any conventional and well known manner.

It will be appreciated that in the form shown in Figs.

1 and 2, the pivot points 26 and 32 are spaced apart from each other.

A seat stop 34 is fixed to each member 10 and these function as stops for the seat 30 when the chair is in the upright position. It will be understood that similar stop means may extend upwardly from one of the transverse members such as 16 for identical purposes if desired.

A foot or leg rest member 40 may be employed and is disposed below the plane of the seat 30- as shown in Fig. 1.

Connectors 42 are provided on opposite sides of the seat 30 and are pivoted thereby by means of pivot members 48.

In instances where the foot rest 40 is .employed, the connectors 42 may be provided with lower downwardly extending legs 43 which are fixed, as by screws or thelike, to adjacent sides of the foot rest.

An elongated primary actuator 50 is pivoted at a rear portion thereof by a pivot member 52 to the lower end portion or extension 24 of the back rest member 26) and is pivoted at its forward portion by a pivot member 62 to the member 42.

A secondary actuator '76 has a lower end portion connecting 'pivotally to the primary actuator 53 by means of a .pivot member 72 at a point spaced away from the pivot-members v52 and :62.

An extension fixed to the rearward end of the seat 30 is providedias a means by whiohthe upper-end portion of the member 70 may be pivoted to the seat '3d by means of a pivot member .82. Oonceivably, the extension 80 may be eliminated, if desired, and the member 70 may be pivoted directly to the seat 30 ;at a point spaced apart from the pivot 32.

By virtueof this linkagebetween the seat 30, the back rest 20, the seat, back rest, and, if employed, the foot .rest, are .caused to cooperate in related movements asthe movable components ofv the chair are :actuated.

, Whereas only one system :of linkage is shown anddescribed, .it is to be appreciated that duplicate systems may be employed on opposite sides of the chairstructure which systems operate together in the well known manner. For

purposes of simplification, only one system of linkage has been shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 hereof.

In this mechanism, the linkage is free to swivel about the fixed centers provided by the pivots 26 and 32.

When the chair is in the extreme reclined position, the back rest 22 abuts the upper surface of the transverse member 32 which accordingly functions as a stop therefor as shown in Fig. 2.

As the back rest member 2% moves toward this reclined position, the lower extension 24 thereof moves forwardly thereby propelling the member 58 forwardly. The member 50 moves forwardly and cooperates with the member 42 so as to cause member 42 to swing relative to the pivot member 48.

Simultaneously therewith, :as member Sil moves forwardly, the lower extremity of member '73 is also moved forwardly to the end that the seat member 3t) pivots on its pivot member 32 and the forward portion of the seat member 30 is swung upwardly.

In the event that the foot rest member as is employed in the structure, and where if it is rigidly secured to the member 42 by means of extension 43 which is fixed to the foot rest 40, as the member 42. is swung forwardly relative to the pivot member 48, all as heretofore de scribed, the foot rest moves from the inoperative position shown in Pig. 1 to the operative position shown in Fig. 2.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown a construction which envisions a single operating mechanism which is disposed substantially centrally of the chair instead of a pair of identical operating mechanisms disposed on opposite sides of the chair such as heretofore described.

In this modification, I employ a support comprising a pair of vertically disposed side frames 110 (only one of which is shown), which side frames are spaced apart by a plurality of transverse members, such as 112, 114, 116 and 113.

The back rest member is generally indicated by 120 and comprises a pair of spaced side rail members 122 (only one of which is shown) and a plurality of transverse connecting members such as 123. Appropriate padding or cushioning may be associated therewith in the conventional manner.

A single lowermost downwardly extending extension 124 is substantially centrally disposed relative to the back rest 12%, is fixed to the lowermost transverse member 123, and extends downwardly therefrom.

The back rest 120 is held in pivotal relation with the support by means of a pivot 126 which may comprise a unitary transverse rod member which extends between the opposite side frame members. If desired, the single pivot member 126 may be replaced by a pair of pivot members 126, each one of which is engageable with a side of the member 120 and the adjacent side frame member iii whereby the member 120 is pivotally connected to the support in the well known manner.

The seat assembly comprises a seat member 130 which is transversely disposed between the opposite side frame members lit and 11d and is pivoted thereto. Pivot members 132 are engageable between a side of the member 134) and the adjacent side frame member lit The pivot means for the seat may comprise a unitary transverse rod member extending between and supported by the opposite side frame members 119 and 110 whereby the seat member 13% may be journalled therein in the conventional manner.

It again will be appreciated that in the form shown, the pivot points 126 and 132 are spaced apart from each other.

A leg rest member 140 may be employed, if desired, and if it is, it is disposed below the plane of the seat 130.

Connectors 142 are provided on opposite sides of the forward portion of the seat 1% and are pivoted thereto by means of pivot members 148.

A plurality of transverse rail members, such as 166 and 166', may be disposed between opposite sides of the foot rest member and one of such transverse rail members 166 serves as a support to which a connector 16 i may be rigidly secured at a point substantially centrally thereof as shown in Fig. 3.

A centrally disposed primary actuator 15% is pivoted at a rear portion thereof by a pivot member 152 to the lower extension 124 of the back rest member and is pivoted at its forward extremity by a pivot member 162 to the member 164.

In the event, as above anticipated, that the leg rest member 14b is not employed, the member 164- (centrally of the chair structure) and the members 14-2 (at the opposite sides thereof) may be connected by a transverse connecting bar 166 which is positioned between and fixed to the spaced members 142.

The members 150, 142, 164 and 166 of the operating mechanism in such instance are of such relative dimensions as to be well concealed beneath and adjacent the seat so as not to be exposed to view.

A secondary actuator has a lower end portion connecting pivotally to the primary actuator 15d by means of a pivot member 172 at a point spaced away from the pivot members 152 and 162.

A transverse member 13?. extending between opposite sides of the seat 130 is provided and an extension 18'!) is fixed thereto at a point substantially centraliy thereof. Said extension 186 is provided as a means by which the upper end portion of the member 17d may be pivoted to the seat 130 by means of a pivot member 1 .32. Conceivably the extension may be eliminated and the member 1'7 may be pivoted directly to the seat at a point spaced apart from the pivot 132.

The operation of the modified form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and heretofore described.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics there of and the present embodiments are to be considered merely as being illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

p 1. An article of repose comprising a support having spaced opposite side walls, a seat, first coaxial pivotal connections between said seat and the opposite side walls of said support, a back-rest, second coaxial pivotal connections between said back-rest and the opposite side walls of said support and being independent of and spaced from said first pivotal connections, said first and second pivotal connections providing the sole connection between said seat and back-rest and said support, said back-rest including a downward extension rigid therewith, a pair of linkage mechanisms, each linkage mechanism of said pair thereof including, a primary actuator pivotally connected to the downward extension of said back-rest, connector link pivotally connected to said seat forwardly of said first pivotal connections and pivotally connected to said primary actuator, a secondary actuator, a pivotal connection between said secondary actuator and. seat independent of said first and second pivotal connections, a pivotal con nection between said primary and secondary actuators, said secondary actuators guiding said primary actuator angularly relative to said support whereby coordinated movements of the members of each linkage mechanism of said pair thereof eflect the angularization of said seat relative to said first pivotal connections upon reclination of said back-rest.

2. An article of repose comprising, a support, a seat, a back-rest having a downward extension, secondary actuators, pivotal connections between said back-rest and support, pivotal connections between. said seat and support independent of and spaced from said first-named connections, pivotal connections between said secondary actuators and seat independent of said pivotal connections between said seat and support, said pivotal connections between said seat and support and said back-rest and support providing the sole connection between said seat and back-rest and said support, a pair of linkage mechanisms each including a primary actuator pivotally connected to the downward extension of said back-rest and a connector link pivotally connected to said seat forwardly of said pivotal connections of said seat and support and pivotally connected to said primary actuator, pivotal connections be tween each of said primary and secondary actuators, said secondary actuator guiding said primary actuator angularly relative to said support whereby coordinated move- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,478,769 Lorenz Aug. 9, 1949 2,536,195 Lorenz Jan. 2, 1951 2,612,937 Lorenz Oct. 7, 1952 2,743,764 Lorenz May 1, 1956 

